What do you think?
Rate this book
Tracers #5
Twisted
Motive, opportunity, and no alibi - it seems close to a slam-dunk. But while rookie detective Allison Doyle’s department has ID’d a suspect in a young woman’s vicious murder, she is uneasy. Then legendary FBI profiler Mark Wolfe shows up with a startling theory: if he’s right, the real murderer is an elusive psychopath just days away from another kill.
Using Allison’s contacts at the Delphi Center crime lab, Wolfe is finally in striking distance of the monster he’s pursued for ten years. Except that as they work together, Wolfe finds the ambitious, stubborn woman a tempting distraction. And with this brutal predator, every thread of evidence can make the difference between being the hunter...and the prey.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2012
434 people are currently reading
2433 people want to read
About the author
Laura Griffin
56 books3,839 followersLaura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award. Laura got her start in journalism before venturing into the world of suspense fiction. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages. Laura lives in Austin, Texas, where she is working on her next novel.
Series:
* Texas Murder Files
* Tracers
* Wolfe Security
* Alpha Crew
* Moreno and Hart Mysteries
* Glass Sisters
* The Borderline
Series:
* Texas Murder Files
* Tracers
* Wolfe Security
* Alpha Crew
* Moreno and Hart Mysteries
* Glass Sisters
* The Borderline
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
August 27, 2017
San Marcos Detective Allison Doyle has fought her way into the homicide unit and is still trying to prove herself. She views it as a setback when FBI Profiler Mark Wolfe has to save her hide during a convenience store robbery but gets a leg up when he leverages her to get a local task force started to catch a serial killer they never saw in their midst.
The case was extremely interesting and taxing, using many areas of the Delphi Center's forensic teams. I found this aspect of the story fascinating, learning more about crime analyses and the related techniques.
I also liked Mark Wolfe and thought his characterization was on target. Someone having to daily explore the minds of the sickest individuals on earth and confront the carnage they wreak would have to be a bit damaged over time and he's not immune. He's wonderfully crafted and I just wish his salvation would have been through a stronger person than Allison Doyle. She's aggressive and tenacious, which are her strengths here, but also prone to childish and risky behaviors to prove her mettle. Her insights into Mark rang hollow and not because of her age difference. Allison just lacked depth. Consequently, their romance fell flat for me.
I enjoyed the forensic aspects of this story as well as the puzzling case. It's a tough one to sink into to and that's a good thing. I just wish Allison had shown up as a stronger character.
The case was extremely interesting and taxing, using many areas of the Delphi Center's forensic teams. I found this aspect of the story fascinating, learning more about crime analyses and the related techniques.
I also liked Mark Wolfe and thought his characterization was on target. Someone having to daily explore the minds of the sickest individuals on earth and confront the carnage they wreak would have to be a bit damaged over time and he's not immune. He's wonderfully crafted and I just wish his salvation would have been through a stronger person than Allison Doyle. She's aggressive and tenacious, which are her strengths here, but also prone to childish and risky behaviors to prove her mettle. Her insights into Mark rang hollow and not because of her age difference. Allison just lacked depth. Consequently, their romance fell flat for me.
I enjoyed the forensic aspects of this story as well as the puzzling case. It's a tough one to sink into to and that's a good thing. I just wish Allison had shown up as a stronger character.
March 19, 2019
Twisted is Allison Doyle and Mark Wolfe's story. We've met these two in previous books in the series but I never knew that Allison was so young. She is a 27 year old detective and mature beyond her years. She's works in a predominately male oriented career which has her needing to work twice as hard to show her value. I enjoyed her straightforwardness. She's not even assigned to the recent murder case but that doesn't stop her from inserting herself into the investigation.
This is where Allison meets the FBI profiler, Mark Wolfe. Mark is 43 years old and married to his job. He's made a name for himself with his caseload and his dedication to the job. The local police department isn't exactly happy about his involvement in the case. Mark sees an opportunity in Allison, as the eager rookie detective to help him get in the door.
As for the romance aspect of Twisted, there is a lot of push and pull here. First there is a huge age gap between Mark and Allison. Despite Mark's attraction to Allison, he knows he should leave her alone. He's also a bit jaded with not only his job, but a previous marriage that didn't work out. As for Allison, she isn't giving up. She sees nothing wrong with their age difference and she seems determined despite knowing that Mark will soon be off traveling with new cases. I actually really liked these two together. I didn't even mind the push and pull so much.
What I really enjoyed was the suspense. This author really has a way with telling a story. I loved every bit of the investigation we get to follow along with to find the killer. I never guessed who it was and that ending was pretty spectacular. I've read several of the books in the series in row and I have in no way gotten bored with this series. In fact, I'm off to start the next book!
This is where Allison meets the FBI profiler, Mark Wolfe. Mark is 43 years old and married to his job. He's made a name for himself with his caseload and his dedication to the job. The local police department isn't exactly happy about his involvement in the case. Mark sees an opportunity in Allison, as the eager rookie detective to help him get in the door.
As for the romance aspect of Twisted, there is a lot of push and pull here. First there is a huge age gap between Mark and Allison. Despite Mark's attraction to Allison, he knows he should leave her alone. He's also a bit jaded with not only his job, but a previous marriage that didn't work out. As for Allison, she isn't giving up. She sees nothing wrong with their age difference and she seems determined despite knowing that Mark will soon be off traveling with new cases. I actually really liked these two together. I didn't even mind the push and pull so much.
What I really enjoyed was the suspense. This author really has a way with telling a story. I loved every bit of the investigation we get to follow along with to find the killer. I never guessed who it was and that ending was pretty spectacular. I've read several of the books in the series in row and I have in no way gotten bored with this series. In fact, I'm off to start the next book!
February 29, 2012
I recently received a batch of books from The Thrillers Writers group and one of the books in the box was this book by Laura Griffin: Twisted.
From the very first line this author's ability and style is very apparent and in my very well read view she is a major player in the thriller book scene. Let me address the romance aspect, which is masterfully weaved into this story and that it could have been solely planted in either genre. (I sit here reading the various aspects of a romantic plot line with a red face and a dopey expression, but that's just me.)
While reading this book we are propelled by a fast paced plot line and no-nonsense dialogue while at the same time sitting on the dge of our seat because we don't know how this drama will play out. How many more girls will this guy kill before they catch him? WILL they catch him?.
Again, this book could stand in either genre, on it's own, and, the mix of both, for me, and to me, is a testament to this authors skill level, which is VERY high because she pulls it off, going away. In fact, and this pertains to authors, I rarely say this, but this book is a high grade exhibition of a writing clinic on SO many levels. I knew right away, one page in, I was holding a major league piece of work.
Allison Doyle is a young detective on a good old boy squad in a small town, looking to stop a serial killer who stalks women, abducts them and brutally rapes, tortures and kills them. He's been at it for a very long time and his travels have taken him to Allison's little burg. Enter legendary profiler Mark Wolfe, who is a little bit older and much more experienced than Allison. This is what he does, he catches bad guys no one else can and he's in high demand. (On a lot of levels....).
Overcoming the usual male BS in her department our girl gets herself assigned this case and begins working with Wolfe. The romance we all know is coming, from the get-go, is so well done and not too much on top of a real, top notch and compelling story-line, that it easily kept me in this book. It's not that I'm NOT a romance fan, it's more that I'm a male action/adventure/thriller author and I read/study, very intensely, guys like Alex Berenson, Steven Gore, Steve Berry, and Harlan Coben, and a few others. So, my exposure to romance is limited. Unfortunately many male authors do not attempt that element in their stories, maybe because we can't think like that. Plus, as we all know (I'm laughing....because it's true), the female authors have it locked up anyway.
Vivid, well defined characters, good, tight dialogue exchanges with lots of inferred, unspoken, action sequences. The best kind, where an author this talented can have you so involved you're barely aware of it. Another stellar element layered on top of a very current and valid plot line.
LG's "Tracer" Series looks and certainly reads like a winner and I'm sure this author will be a frequent resident on the bestseller lists with it.
I recommend getting up to speed with the Tracers Series before Twisted comes out.
Laura Griffin
Laura is on Twitter too as @Laura_Griff
From the very first line this author's ability and style is very apparent and in my very well read view she is a major player in the thriller book scene. Let me address the romance aspect, which is masterfully weaved into this story and that it could have been solely planted in either genre. (I sit here reading the various aspects of a romantic plot line with a red face and a dopey expression, but that's just me.)
While reading this book we are propelled by a fast paced plot line and no-nonsense dialogue while at the same time sitting on the dge of our seat because we don't know how this drama will play out. How many more girls will this guy kill before they catch him? WILL they catch him?.
Again, this book could stand in either genre, on it's own, and, the mix of both, for me, and to me, is a testament to this authors skill level, which is VERY high because she pulls it off, going away. In fact, and this pertains to authors, I rarely say this, but this book is a high grade exhibition of a writing clinic on SO many levels. I knew right away, one page in, I was holding a major league piece of work.
Allison Doyle is a young detective on a good old boy squad in a small town, looking to stop a serial killer who stalks women, abducts them and brutally rapes, tortures and kills them. He's been at it for a very long time and his travels have taken him to Allison's little burg. Enter legendary profiler Mark Wolfe, who is a little bit older and much more experienced than Allison. This is what he does, he catches bad guys no one else can and he's in high demand. (On a lot of levels....).
Overcoming the usual male BS in her department our girl gets herself assigned this case and begins working with Wolfe. The romance we all know is coming, from the get-go, is so well done and not too much on top of a real, top notch and compelling story-line, that it easily kept me in this book. It's not that I'm NOT a romance fan, it's more that I'm a male action/adventure/thriller author and I read/study, very intensely, guys like Alex Berenson, Steven Gore, Steve Berry, and Harlan Coben, and a few others. So, my exposure to romance is limited. Unfortunately many male authors do not attempt that element in their stories, maybe because we can't think like that. Plus, as we all know (I'm laughing....because it's true), the female authors have it locked up anyway.
Vivid, well defined characters, good, tight dialogue exchanges with lots of inferred, unspoken, action sequences. The best kind, where an author this talented can have you so involved you're barely aware of it. Another stellar element layered on top of a very current and valid plot line.
LG's "Tracer" Series looks and certainly reads like a winner and I'm sure this author will be a frequent resident on the bestseller lists with it.
I recommend getting up to speed with the Tracers Series before Twisted comes out.
Laura Griffin
Laura is on Twitter too as @Laura_Griff
April 16, 2012
After a gruesome murder in the small town of Waynesboro, Texas, detective Allison Doyle is very disturbed. Things like this don’t happen in her town. At the age of 27, she is young to have made detective, whether it is because she is one of the few females on the police force or her brains, she doesn’t worry about it too much. All signs point to the ex-boyfriend, who had been served with a restraining order the day before her murder. But that theory is about to go out the window.
Special Agent Mark Wolfe has worked for the FBI a long time. At the age of 43, he has seen a lot in his time. He is a leading expert at profiling and has his own theory on this new murder. In fact, he thinks this murder is just one of a series that has taken place over a decade. Stretching from California to Texas, this killer has been quiet recently, but one look at the body and he thinks his killer has started again. Telltale sign is that the woman was jogging in the woods, but also her hair was cut off and left at the scene. But Mark has a hard job. Small town cops don’t like big fancy FBI agents to take over their cases. But he makes points that they can’t ignore. This killer seems to kill two victims a year – one on October 30 and another on November 19. The recent Waynesboro killing happened on October 30, which means they only have a few short weeks to stop another innocent woman from being killed. Allison and Mark start a partnership of sorts. When they discover that one of the earlier victims of this serial murderer survived the attack, they realize they might have a chance to stop this evil man.
Last year I read my first Laura Griffin book, Snapped (which is the previous book in this series). I immediately went and read her back list. I love this author’s voice. She writes very engaging, fascinating (and creepy!) stories and I really can’t get enough of them. Twisted is by far my favorite for a variety of reasons. First of all, this book (as in all of her books) is heavy on the suspense. She builds this serial killer up into such a haunting figure. The crimes are very detailed and explicit, which I think is necessary in a book like this. The details of the case are very specific but never weigh down the story. She brings in the supporting characters of the law enforcement and various lab workers as well as victims of these crimes so well. It is just an absolutely well rounded, fantastic story. The suspense at the end builds so well I am sure I was literally holding my breath at some scenes.
And let’s not forget the romance. While I absolutely give no hesitation in recommending this author, I always state that the physical romance in this series is light. There is definitely a romance with a HEA, but there is more emphasis on the suspense. That is not to say though that the romance feels lacking. I think in this type of book, if the hero and heroine were jumping into bed all the time, I would throw it across the room. With a case this intense, these two detectives acted, dare I say – professional. Laura Griffin never forces a romance, she just lets it unfold very slowly.
Mark Wolfe is a super sexy FBI agent. I was enamored with him from the start. He is 43, compared to Allison’s 27 and the age difference comes up a lot. Not just with a burgeoning relationship, but he also has more professional experience than her. I love that she actually tries to learn from him (although she does occasionally have her stubborn moments). I love that he is totally burned out, exhausted, feels like the weight of the world is on his shoulders, and Allison knows he needs a friend. These two worked so well together. I loved them. It is an extremely sexy romance, without taking away from the intense, suspense we get in this book.
Laura Griffin’s Tracer series can be read as stand alones. I started with book 4, and worked my way back. However, supporting characters are usually presented as the next hero and heroine, so it is fun to read them in order. Any way you choose to do it, I really recommend you try this author.
Rating: A
Special Agent Mark Wolfe has worked for the FBI a long time. At the age of 43, he has seen a lot in his time. He is a leading expert at profiling and has his own theory on this new murder. In fact, he thinks this murder is just one of a series that has taken place over a decade. Stretching from California to Texas, this killer has been quiet recently, but one look at the body and he thinks his killer has started again. Telltale sign is that the woman was jogging in the woods, but also her hair was cut off and left at the scene. But Mark has a hard job. Small town cops don’t like big fancy FBI agents to take over their cases. But he makes points that they can’t ignore. This killer seems to kill two victims a year – one on October 30 and another on November 19. The recent Waynesboro killing happened on October 30, which means they only have a few short weeks to stop another innocent woman from being killed. Allison and Mark start a partnership of sorts. When they discover that one of the earlier victims of this serial murderer survived the attack, they realize they might have a chance to stop this evil man.
Last year I read my first Laura Griffin book, Snapped (which is the previous book in this series). I immediately went and read her back list. I love this author’s voice. She writes very engaging, fascinating (and creepy!) stories and I really can’t get enough of them. Twisted is by far my favorite for a variety of reasons. First of all, this book (as in all of her books) is heavy on the suspense. She builds this serial killer up into such a haunting figure. The crimes are very detailed and explicit, which I think is necessary in a book like this. The details of the case are very specific but never weigh down the story. She brings in the supporting characters of the law enforcement and various lab workers as well as victims of these crimes so well. It is just an absolutely well rounded, fantastic story. The suspense at the end builds so well I am sure I was literally holding my breath at some scenes.
And let’s not forget the romance. While I absolutely give no hesitation in recommending this author, I always state that the physical romance in this series is light. There is definitely a romance with a HEA, but there is more emphasis on the suspense. That is not to say though that the romance feels lacking. I think in this type of book, if the hero and heroine were jumping into bed all the time, I would throw it across the room. With a case this intense, these two detectives acted, dare I say – professional. Laura Griffin never forces a romance, she just lets it unfold very slowly.
Mark Wolfe is a super sexy FBI agent. I was enamored with him from the start. He is 43, compared to Allison’s 27 and the age difference comes up a lot. Not just with a burgeoning relationship, but he also has more professional experience than her. I love that she actually tries to learn from him (although she does occasionally have her stubborn moments). I love that he is totally burned out, exhausted, feels like the weight of the world is on his shoulders, and Allison knows he needs a friend. These two worked so well together. I loved them. It is an extremely sexy romance, without taking away from the intense, suspense we get in this book.
Laura Griffin’s Tracer series can be read as stand alones. I started with book 4, and worked my way back. However, supporting characters are usually presented as the next hero and heroine, so it is fun to read them in order. Any way you choose to do it, I really recommend you try this author.
Rating: A
April 13, 2012
Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
The Tracer’s series is one of my favorites, I look forward to every book and as a result it tends to put a lot pressure on the newest release – a lot to live up to in my mind. Laura Griffin never lets me down. Her romantic suspense stories are a little heavier on the suspense side, but so very well done. TWISTED takes us into the world of tracking a serial killer who makes his kills on the same two dates every year. After investigating a local murder, Allison and her department think they have their man, no doubts at all. But when FBI profiler Mark Wolfe comes to town with a different theory, he’s met with reluctance at first, but not from Allison. They team up to track the real killer and try to follow all the twists and turns the case takes them on.
Allison feels like she needs to be doubly on her game, at all times, being young on the force at the age of 27 and one of the few females. She puts in a ton of hours and doesn’t want to make any mistakes since she already feels like she’s on an uphill battle at work. She and Mark meet under unusual and dangerous circumstances when Allison is caught in the middle of a convenience store hold up. There’s attraction between them from that first meeting, but Mark refuses to let himself go there. He thinks the age difference is too much and he has no room in his life for anything outside work. Work is his life and he carries around a load of burdens, thinking that he’s the one that needs to save the world. His case load is unreal, and as Allison points out, he’s on the edge of burnout, or a stress induced heart attack.
Intensity. Mark Wolfe had it in spades. Kelsey had put a name to it, but Allison had sensed it from the very beginning. It was in the way he moved, the way he spoke, the way he made an argument. It was in his laser-sharp focus when he talked to a victim. It was in the way he looked at her sometimes – as if he could see straight into her mind and read her private thoughts.
Mark’s married to the job and anything he might feel for Allison won’t be acted on. That’s one of the things I most enjoy about this series. The romance takes its time building up. If you like to have the lead characters hopping into bed during the first chapter – not going to happen here. I love the build-up, the sexual tension that you just know is going to explode at some point for both characters. It’s almost more satisfying as a reader to have the slow build before getting to the heart of their relationship. This also allows for the intricate suspense plot to take center stage early on.
The suspense plots always draw me in to each new Tracer’s books. The detail that the story is written with, it’s amazing to me that the amount of detail we get doesn’t bog the story down and make it drag. Quite the opposite in fact, I find myself flying through the story trying to work out the clues with all the players involved – which always include a team from the Delphi Center. I also appreciate that the stories never seem to go into gory territory, if that makes sense. We know without a doubt how horrible this serial killer is, and the horrendous things he’s done, but most of his crimes take place off page, which is perfectly fine for this reader. It’s heartbreaking enough to follow Jordan through this story in her small supporting role – she’s a victim of the serial killer, the only one to survive and her life is in shambles. We get small glimpses at what she’s going through, how her marriage is fairing and the possibility of where her life might be going by book’s end. Her side story is very small, but packed a big punch.
She grabbed his tie and pulled him to her for a kiss. His mouth was hot, fierce. His hands gripped her hips and he made a low, male sound in his throat as he pinned her against the wall. She loved the fact that she made him like this – raw and greedy – when the rest of the time he was so damn civilized.
Once the romance heats up for Allison and Mark it’s sweet and bittersweet all together. Allison knows that Mark is dealing with a lot right now, and while she hopes and wants more, she’s not sure he’ll ever be able to give all of himself in a relationship. Some big life changes are going to need to be made, and Mark really struggles with wanting and needing to work himself into the ground to find justice for people who’ve been victims, but he can’t keep going at the pace he’s currently at. They’re a well matched couple and I enjoyed all their scenes together; their intimate relationship and their professional one.
The case brings in familiar faces and new team members. It’s always nice getting caught up with previous characters, but they’re not just walking through scenes in TWISTED. In fact, it would be more appropriate to say that we’re reintroduced to our old friends as they find themselves right in the middle of the action and detective work. We get a very small hint at the hero and heroine in the next book, SCORCHED (Oct 2012), and holy cow – I can’t wait for this one! Gage is a Navy SEAL and Kelsey is a forensic anthropologist at the Delphi Center. Really, Laura, you had me at Navy SEAL.
TWISTED combines a fast paced plot with a serial killer that has everyone guessing up until the end. It’s balanced by a sweet love story that was satisfying in every way. All fans of romantic suspense need to check this series out, it’s one of my must reads and it just keeps getting better and better.
The Tracer’s series is one of my favorites, I look forward to every book and as a result it tends to put a lot pressure on the newest release – a lot to live up to in my mind. Laura Griffin never lets me down. Her romantic suspense stories are a little heavier on the suspense side, but so very well done. TWISTED takes us into the world of tracking a serial killer who makes his kills on the same two dates every year. After investigating a local murder, Allison and her department think they have their man, no doubts at all. But when FBI profiler Mark Wolfe comes to town with a different theory, he’s met with reluctance at first, but not from Allison. They team up to track the real killer and try to follow all the twists and turns the case takes them on.
Allison feels like she needs to be doubly on her game, at all times, being young on the force at the age of 27 and one of the few females. She puts in a ton of hours and doesn’t want to make any mistakes since she already feels like she’s on an uphill battle at work. She and Mark meet under unusual and dangerous circumstances when Allison is caught in the middle of a convenience store hold up. There’s attraction between them from that first meeting, but Mark refuses to let himself go there. He thinks the age difference is too much and he has no room in his life for anything outside work. Work is his life and he carries around a load of burdens, thinking that he’s the one that needs to save the world. His case load is unreal, and as Allison points out, he’s on the edge of burnout, or a stress induced heart attack.
Intensity. Mark Wolfe had it in spades. Kelsey had put a name to it, but Allison had sensed it from the very beginning. It was in the way he moved, the way he spoke, the way he made an argument. It was in his laser-sharp focus when he talked to a victim. It was in the way he looked at her sometimes – as if he could see straight into her mind and read her private thoughts.
Mark’s married to the job and anything he might feel for Allison won’t be acted on. That’s one of the things I most enjoy about this series. The romance takes its time building up. If you like to have the lead characters hopping into bed during the first chapter – not going to happen here. I love the build-up, the sexual tension that you just know is going to explode at some point for both characters. It’s almost more satisfying as a reader to have the slow build before getting to the heart of their relationship. This also allows for the intricate suspense plot to take center stage early on.
The suspense plots always draw me in to each new Tracer’s books. The detail that the story is written with, it’s amazing to me that the amount of detail we get doesn’t bog the story down and make it drag. Quite the opposite in fact, I find myself flying through the story trying to work out the clues with all the players involved – which always include a team from the Delphi Center. I also appreciate that the stories never seem to go into gory territory, if that makes sense. We know without a doubt how horrible this serial killer is, and the horrendous things he’s done, but most of his crimes take place off page, which is perfectly fine for this reader. It’s heartbreaking enough to follow Jordan through this story in her small supporting role – she’s a victim of the serial killer, the only one to survive and her life is in shambles. We get small glimpses at what she’s going through, how her marriage is fairing and the possibility of where her life might be going by book’s end. Her side story is very small, but packed a big punch.
She grabbed his tie and pulled him to her for a kiss. His mouth was hot, fierce. His hands gripped her hips and he made a low, male sound in his throat as he pinned her against the wall. She loved the fact that she made him like this – raw and greedy – when the rest of the time he was so damn civilized.
Once the romance heats up for Allison and Mark it’s sweet and bittersweet all together. Allison knows that Mark is dealing with a lot right now, and while she hopes and wants more, she’s not sure he’ll ever be able to give all of himself in a relationship. Some big life changes are going to need to be made, and Mark really struggles with wanting and needing to work himself into the ground to find justice for people who’ve been victims, but he can’t keep going at the pace he’s currently at. They’re a well matched couple and I enjoyed all their scenes together; their intimate relationship and their professional one.
The case brings in familiar faces and new team members. It’s always nice getting caught up with previous characters, but they’re not just walking through scenes in TWISTED. In fact, it would be more appropriate to say that we’re reintroduced to our old friends as they find themselves right in the middle of the action and detective work. We get a very small hint at the hero and heroine in the next book, SCORCHED (Oct 2012), and holy cow – I can’t wait for this one! Gage is a Navy SEAL and Kelsey is a forensic anthropologist at the Delphi Center. Really, Laura, you had me at Navy SEAL.
TWISTED combines a fast paced plot with a serial killer that has everyone guessing up until the end. It’s balanced by a sweet love story that was satisfying in every way. All fans of romantic suspense need to check this series out, it’s one of my must reads and it just keeps getting better and better.
March 6, 2021
1st read 4/20/2012
Re-read 7/24/2015
Re-read 3/31/2019
I totally loved this latest addition to the Tracers series. As usual, Griffin has crafted a complex and suspenseful mystery with all those glimpses at new forensic technology that I've come to expect from this series. I remembered Allison from Snapped, and liked her, but in her own story she is a complicated, driven and eminently likable character. She's able to work hard with the guys, but still maintains her femininity, which I think is probably difficult for most female cops. It was great to see her paired with Mark, who because of his age, experience, and position as a profiler with the FBI, is "strong enough to be [her] man." And his reluctance to start something up with Allison because of those things made the tension between them electric. His determination to do his job and his baggage as a result of that seemed very realistic to me. And seeing him finally drop the calm veneer and say what he was really thinking and feeling was SO worth the wait. With a diabolical villain--who is also creepily ordinary--and two strong, likable protagonists any reader of romantic suspense should love this book.
Re-read 7/24/2015
Re-read 3/31/2019
I totally loved this latest addition to the Tracers series. As usual, Griffin has crafted a complex and suspenseful mystery with all those glimpses at new forensic technology that I've come to expect from this series. I remembered Allison from Snapped, and liked her, but in her own story she is a complicated, driven and eminently likable character. She's able to work hard with the guys, but still maintains her femininity, which I think is probably difficult for most female cops. It was great to see her paired with Mark, who because of his age, experience, and position as a profiler with the FBI, is "strong enough to be [her] man." And his reluctance to start something up with Allison because of those things made the tension between them electric. His determination to do his job and his baggage as a result of that seemed very realistic to me. And seeing him finally drop the calm veneer and say what he was really thinking and feeling was SO worth the wait. With a diabolical villain--who is also creepily ordinary--and two strong, likable protagonists any reader of romantic suspense should love this book.
April 28, 2012
Book 5 in the Tracers series and another thumping suspense story.
This time we have a serial killer raping and murdering women on dates significant to him but the local police have no real clue what they’re dealing with. Special Agent Mark Wolfe, a profiler from Quantico, comes into town to follow up some hunches on the case he’s been working for years and rubs shoulders with the San Marcos PD, in particular rookie detective Allison Doyle.
Allison is a young, ambitious, idealistic detective, full of energy and not officially on the Death Raven case. Mark is, it has to be said, a bit of a cold fish. He is much older, in his early forties, has a failed marriage in his wake and is totally dedicated to his job. He’s focused, very experienced and comes across as a little jaded. He actually reminded me a lot of Lisa Gardner's Pierce Quincy. Allison and Mark team up and an attraction sparks between them almost immediately.
Mark tries to ignore his growing feelings for her but Allison, who wears her heart on her sleeve, comes on strong to him only to be rejected. It takes an incident about halfway through the book, when she is assaulted, for Mark’s iron resolve to snap and they end up in bed and, even then, he walks away in the morning and leaves her again. Cold, much??
At this point, the whole story, suspense and romance, which has been a real slow burner absolutely roars into life when pieces of the puzzle start to fall together and they get closer to identifying the UNSUB and closer to the date they think he will kill again. The last third of the novel roars along at a ferocious pace as the killer becomes more desperate and the action escalates with a thrilling finish.
Mark, who’s been holding his personal feelings behind a façade of ice, finally melts when he thinks he may lose Allison forever and we have a deeply satisfying happy ending.
It’s nice to catch up with Ric and Mia but sad to see all is not well with Kelsey and Gage who got together in the novella in Deadly Promises but, fear not, their full length novel is up next and I am very much looking forward to that one.
So 4 stars romantic suspense – heavy on the suspense, fairly low on the steam factor
Satisfying read.
This time we have a serial killer raping and murdering women on dates significant to him but the local police have no real clue what they’re dealing with. Special Agent Mark Wolfe, a profiler from Quantico, comes into town to follow up some hunches on the case he’s been working for years and rubs shoulders with the San Marcos PD, in particular rookie detective Allison Doyle.
Allison is a young, ambitious, idealistic detective, full of energy and not officially on the Death Raven case. Mark is, it has to be said, a bit of a cold fish. He is much older, in his early forties, has a failed marriage in his wake and is totally dedicated to his job. He’s focused, very experienced and comes across as a little jaded. He actually reminded me a lot of Lisa Gardner's Pierce Quincy. Allison and Mark team up and an attraction sparks between them almost immediately.
Mark tries to ignore his growing feelings for her but Allison, who wears her heart on her sleeve, comes on strong to him only to be rejected. It takes an incident about halfway through the book, when she is assaulted, for Mark’s iron resolve to snap and they end up in bed and, even then, he walks away in the morning and leaves her again. Cold, much??
At this point, the whole story, suspense and romance, which has been a real slow burner absolutely roars into life when pieces of the puzzle start to fall together and they get closer to identifying the UNSUB and closer to the date they think he will kill again. The last third of the novel roars along at a ferocious pace as the killer becomes more desperate and the action escalates with a thrilling finish.
Mark, who’s been holding his personal feelings behind a façade of ice, finally melts when he thinks he may lose Allison forever and we have a deeply satisfying happy ending.
It’s nice to catch up with Ric and Mia but sad to see all is not well with Kelsey and Gage who got together in the novella in Deadly Promises but, fear not, their full length novel is up next and I am very much looking forward to that one.
So 4 stars romantic suspense – heavy on the suspense, fairly low on the steam factor
Satisfying read.
June 8, 2017
Tried hard to like this one, but once again Laura Griffin's TRACERS series left me feeling sort of gritty and tired, like I'd been rolling around in the Texas dust with an unwashed flatulent serial killer for 500 pages. If this is romance, give me indigestion!
The plot -- well, it's always the same in these books. Feisty and determined (of course) girl cop. Tough and by the book (of course) Federal Agent. Mean and nasty (surprise!) serial killer. Will the macho fed be drawn to our feisty girl? Will he push her away because of his unhappy past? Will the feisty, perky, bouncy girl cop go all maverick to "prove" herself to the boys? Does her daring solo play backfire? Does she end up chained to a pipe in the killer's basement? Will the killer have a great knife collection? Will the hero turn up just in time? Do the guys and gals at the Delphi Center lecture the reader again (and again, and again, and again) about how thrilling it is to study samples of a serial killer's spit, urine, feces, and used up fast food wrappers? If you have any trouble answering any of these questions, then this book may be for you.
But it wasn't for me.
I can't really recommend TWISTED, but I'm giving it three stars out of respect for the author's careful research, hard work and the obvious respect she has for law enforcement.
The plot -- well, it's always the same in these books. Feisty and determined (of course) girl cop. Tough and by the book (of course) Federal Agent. Mean and nasty (surprise!) serial killer. Will the macho fed be drawn to our feisty girl? Will he push her away because of his unhappy past? Will the feisty, perky, bouncy girl cop go all maverick to "prove" herself to the boys? Does her daring solo play backfire? Does she end up chained to a pipe in the killer's basement? Will the killer have a great knife collection? Will the hero turn up just in time? Do the guys and gals at the Delphi Center lecture the reader again (and again, and again, and again) about how thrilling it is to study samples of a serial killer's spit, urine, feces, and used up fast food wrappers? If you have any trouble answering any of these questions, then this book may be for you.
But it wasn't for me.
I can't really recommend TWISTED, but I'm giving it three stars out of respect for the author's careful research, hard work and the obvious respect she has for law enforcement.
April 19, 2012
I just finished the incredible latest addition to the already marvelous Tracers Series! I loved both Mark and Allison. Mark may be my favorite leading male character in this series now. His maturity matched with Allison’s youthful eagerness and spontaneity resulted in a magical combination. The suspense was phenomenal and the romance perfectly blended into the story. The well-written relationship between these two included a more intense sensuality and revved up steam factor than past stories. As always, with a Laura Griffin book, the dark and gritty crimes, along with the brutal madman, kept this reader on the edge of my seat from beginning to ending. And that's exactly what I’m looking for when I choose romantic suspense to read!! The story also includes a cast of wonderfully written support characters. Laura Griffin is at the top of her game with “Twisted.” Can't wait for the rest of Gabe and Kelsey’s story this fall!!
April 17, 2012
I love the fact that in this series we see the investigation step by step.
I liked Allison, she was 27 and the only female detective with something to prove since she's young, female and new to homicide, so despite the fact that no-one believes her about a serial killer she works on it along with the hero, FBI agent Mark who first caught wind of this killer ten years ago.
Mark is 43 and married to the job and divorced. He has too much of drive for the job and no time for other things. We see their age play out, he is the more experienced agent and he does tell her that sometimes but I found no inequality. He looks at her and seems someone who is not jaded yet and he does want that.
His bad childhood was alluded to but never expanded on which I didn't like. He doesn't want to act on his attraction for Allison but she does and he tries to back away. I liked how Allison tells him that he will turn into a robot at the pace he works & liked the end when he comes to work for the Delphi Center.
One other thing bothered me, she seemed reckless sometimes because of the pressure to prove herself.
Looking forward to the next book about Kelsey and Gage.
I liked Allison, she was 27 and the only female detective with something to prove since she's young, female and new to homicide, so despite the fact that no-one believes her about a serial killer she works on it along with the hero, FBI agent Mark who first caught wind of this killer ten years ago.
Mark is 43 and married to the job and divorced. He has too much of drive for the job and no time for other things. We see their age play out, he is the more experienced agent and he does tell her that sometimes but I found no inequality. He looks at her and seems someone who is not jaded yet and he does want that.
His bad childhood was alluded to but never expanded on which I didn't like. He doesn't want to act on his attraction for Allison but she does and he tries to back away. I liked how Allison tells him that he will turn into a robot at the pace he works & liked the end when he comes to work for the Delphi Center.
One other thing bothered me, she seemed reckless sometimes because of the pressure to prove herself.
Looking forward to the next book about Kelsey and Gage.
January 26, 2024
Twisted
3.5 Stars
Rookie detective Allison Doyle is determined to prove herself. She seizes the opportunity when legendary FBI profiler, Mark Wolfe, arrives in San Marcos texas with a controversial theory on a high-profile murder case. Wolfe is convinced that the SMPD has the wrong man in custody and joins forces with Allison and the Tracers at the Delphi Center to find the real killer.
Unfortunately, this is one of the weaker installments in the series.
To begin with, Allison is one of the most TSTL heroines to ever disgrace the pages of a romantic suspense novel. She is constantly caught off guard and almost gets herself killed not once, but on three separate occasions. Moreover, she is completely out of her depth on the investigation, yet consistently challenges the more experienced and knowledgable agent and officers.
In addition, the romance between Allison and Mark is completely lackluster. Not only do they have zero chemistry, but the significant difference in their ages is off-putting. This is exacerbated by their first cringe-worthy sexual encounter, which she initiates and he immediately regrets. Mark's eventual acknowledgment of his feelings for Allison feels forced as it is unclear what the stoic and reserved FBI agent sees in the inexperienced and reckless cop.
The suspense plot is better than the romance. The investigation proceeds at a good pace with some interesting twists, and the forensics details are well-incorporated into the storyline. That said, the final twist comes out of left field, and feels tacked on rather than a natural resolution.
Overall, not the best book in this series. Hopefully, Kelsey's story will be better.
3.5 Stars
Rookie detective Allison Doyle is determined to prove herself. She seizes the opportunity when legendary FBI profiler, Mark Wolfe, arrives in San Marcos texas with a controversial theory on a high-profile murder case. Wolfe is convinced that the SMPD has the wrong man in custody and joins forces with Allison and the Tracers at the Delphi Center to find the real killer.
Unfortunately, this is one of the weaker installments in the series.
To begin with, Allison is one of the most TSTL heroines to ever disgrace the pages of a romantic suspense novel. She is constantly caught off guard and almost gets herself killed not once, but on three separate occasions. Moreover, she is completely out of her depth on the investigation, yet consistently challenges the more experienced and knowledgable agent and officers.
In addition, the romance between Allison and Mark is completely lackluster. Not only do they have zero chemistry, but the significant difference in their ages is off-putting. This is exacerbated by their first cringe-worthy sexual encounter, which she initiates and he immediately regrets. Mark's eventual acknowledgment of his feelings for Allison feels forced as it is unclear what the stoic and reserved FBI agent sees in the inexperienced and reckless cop.
The suspense plot is better than the romance. The investigation proceeds at a good pace with some interesting twists, and the forensics details are well-incorporated into the storyline. That said, the final twist comes out of left field, and feels tacked on rather than a natural resolution.
Overall, not the best book in this series. Hopefully, Kelsey's story will be better.
August 28, 2017
Considering that the previous 2 books in this series earned 5 stars from me, I had high hopes for this, but it was a disappointment. The case was interesting, about the race to catch a serial killer before he strikes again. The two leads, however, were not. FBI Profiler Mark Wolf and detective Allison Doyle had about as much personality as a bar of soap, and they had zero chemistry together. Their relationship seemed forced and I could care less if they ever got together. I was bored during most of their scenes. Not a good sign for a book labeled as romantic suspense. Trying to solve the case was what kept me turning the pages. The attempt at romance was a distraction. 3 stars.
July 8, 2021
This book was dubbed as romantic suspence but I beg to differ.... Clearly the suspence is the main focus point in 'Twisted' and sure the main characters sleep together once with the H having regrets the morning after and the h realizing that she somehow loves Mark a good 90% into the book. There was no romance just Mark and Allison suddenly realizing they love each other after the whole kidnapping fiasco at the end of the book.
I personally like a relatively balanced romantic suspence book but this one fell flat on its face which is a shame because the suspence factor keeps you guessing and hooked. This may be the reason it took me 3 days to finally finish this book which is unusual for me.
Ultimately, there was no sparks between Mark and Allison and I felt she was naive and a bit silly for continously throwing herself at him only for him to set her aside 🤷♀️
Laura Griffin excels at writing suspence but unfortunately needs to amp up her style of writing "romance". I have noticed from the other books in the Tracers series which follows the same pattern of the suspence whic majorly outweighs the romance factor. I guess this is just the author's style of writing and I'm just ranting.
Anyway....
I did enjoy the book except for my criticism written above and therefore gave this book 3 stars ⭐⭐⭐
I personally like a relatively balanced romantic suspence book but this one fell flat on its face which is a shame because the suspence factor keeps you guessing and hooked. This may be the reason it took me 3 days to finally finish this book which is unusual for me.
Ultimately, there was no sparks between Mark and Allison and I felt she was naive and a bit silly for continously throwing herself at him only for him to set her aside 🤷♀️
Laura Griffin excels at writing suspence but unfortunately needs to amp up her style of writing "romance". I have noticed from the other books in the Tracers series which follows the same pattern of the suspence whic majorly outweighs the romance factor. I guess this is just the author's style of writing and I'm just ranting.
Anyway....
I did enjoy the book except for my criticism written above and therefore gave this book 3 stars ⭐⭐⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2016
It is hard to review and rate these books. They are all fantastic and the writing never fails to entrance and deliver. The books in this series are tied together with characters from previous books who participate, but never overwhelm the current plot. The books read well as standalones, but read much better when read in order. Laura Griffin is one of the top romantic-suspense authors and I look forward each new book she publishes.
Allison Doyle is 27 and the only female detective in the San Marcos police department and one of only four women on their force. She is driven to prove herself. Mark Wolfe is 43 and a top FBI profiler. He is divorced, but married to his job. There is no room in his life for anything, or anyone, else. A recent murder in San Marcos has him there on the trail of a serial killer who had been dormant for a decade, or has he. Allison has fresh eyes, the ambition and drive to fight her way into this case and into Mark's heart. Together they work to find this killer and work to make room for each other in their lives.
Allison Doyle is 27 and the only female detective in the San Marcos police department and one of only four women on their force. She is driven to prove herself. Mark Wolfe is 43 and a top FBI profiler. He is divorced, but married to his job. There is no room in his life for anything, or anyone, else. A recent murder in San Marcos has him there on the trail of a serial killer who had been dormant for a decade, or has he. Allison has fresh eyes, the ambition and drive to fight her way into this case and into Mark's heart. Together they work to find this killer and work to make room for each other in their lives.
June 26, 2016
This story was interesting, well written, and kept me guessing, but seriously the main female character? Just full of TSTL moments! We met her in the previous book filling a very minor role, but once she gets center stage, she manages to walk into an armed robbery in progress, gets attacked by a prisoner (in prison), and then gets captured by the bad guy, not once but twice. Like all the female characters in this series, I found Allison very irritating. She's a rookie but knows more about solving crimes than seasoned detectives and an FBI agent?
A thumbs up and 3.5 stars - would have liked to give more, but .....
A thumbs up and 3.5 stars - would have liked to give more, but .....
October 2, 2014
Not much in the romance department but a very solid suspense/thriller. The romance itself involves the older man and much younger woman trope. The story centers around an FBI agent who believes the recent murder in San Marcos may be relayed to a series of murders done in California ten years before. He teams up with a young female police officer to investigate. I highly recommend it to any romantic suspense fan who doesn't mind an emphasis on the suspense.
Read
May 5, 20164.25 Stars****1/4...This is excellent romantic suspense, all-around. Ah, Mark Wolfe...love me a hot, tortured hero! Loved the twist with the killer at the end. No one can say that this book didn't end with a bang. Compelling and suspenseful!
May 24, 2012
{This review originally appeared on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves.}
Oh, Laura Griffin, why can’t I quit you?
For real… you’d think after I went mildly ballistic over the Magical Missing Condom Syndrome in Griffin’s previous novel, Snapped* and wanted to strangle the main character in One Wrong Step (Celie is the worst main character I’ve ever read—I wanted the bad guys to kill her and leave her body in a ditch), I’d be able to make a clean break from Griffin’s books. But, oh no… a new Tracers bookmagically, accidentally landed on my Kindle and I devoured it in a couple of evenings.
This is my problem: I enjoyed the hell out of Laura Griffin’s Glass Sisters duology (especially the first one, Thread of Fear). Those two books were the perfect formula for awesomesauce brain candy: decently suspenseful but not too stressful, smart/tough women, smart/tough guys, an interesting setting. I also really, really enjoyed the first book in the Tracers series (which is kind of connected to the Glass Sisters series), Untraceable, because one of the main characters is a female computer hacker for good, which is incredibly badass. So, I keep reading Griffin’s books, hoping to recapture that magic.
And, a lot of those elements are there in subsequent books—plus, Griffin’s a pretty good writer. She’s got a snappy, journalist style and doesn’t get bogged down in procedure or unnecessary details. (Do not bring details and nuance into my brain candy!) Yet, with that said, her novels still seem well-researched—more so than your average CSI episode at least. Trust me on this.
Since I have lost my stomach for a lot of mysteries in the last few years, I’ve tried a lot of the fluffy rom/suspense writers and most of them are just not at all my thing. They tend to be painfully formulatic and beyond ridiculous. (Ridiculous**, I can handle, in fact, I kind of love ridiculous—beyond that… no thanks.)
Also, I have learned two things about Texas from Laura Griffin’s books:
1. The state is virtually crawling with serial killers. It’s amazing anyone survives past thirty there.***
2. The state is also virtually crawling with extremely attractive law enforcement officers.****
Anyway… I should probably get to my review at some point, eh?
The Tracers series (Twisted is the fifth installment) centers around Texas law enforcement that are loosely connected with the Delphi Center (some of the books feature characters who work at the Delphi Center, but each book enlists the Center’s help in some way). Basically, the smarty pants scientists, hackers and receptionists (yes, really) at the Delphi Center help the FBI and local sheriffs crack hard-to-solve cases (obviously, this is a HUGE problem, given the crazy-high percentage of the population in Texas who’re serial killers). Fortunately, everyone at the Delphi Center and the various law enforcement agencies happen to be attractive, smart, ass-kicking hotties, so sparks tend to fly during the crime-solving.
I know, I know… all theWTFery awesome is hard to comprehend.
The latest installment in the series, Twisted, features Allison Doyle, a young (27), newbie detective who’s trying to prove herself in the good ol’ boys club of the San Marcos police department and Mark Wolf, an obsessive, older (43) FBI profiler. They team up to track down a super-creepy serial killer that Mark’s been after for years (honestly—usually serial killers in these books don’t even faze me because they’re kind of absurd, but this one is legitimately creepy). Now, naturally, there’s a significant amount of suspension of disbelief that needs to be employed in order to comprehend why the two are teamed up (it has to do with a frozen pizza), but you know… who cares, really? Obviously, since they’re both hot and into crime-solving, they need to team up, so if a frozen pizza is the vehicle that facilitates that happening, oh well.
The suspense in Twisted exceeded that of the last few installments in the Tracers series. Obviously, it’s a given that the main characters are going to solve the crime and live happily ever after (serial killers: the ultimate in modern matchmaking). So, there’s not a lot of mystery as to the outcome of any of Griffin’s books. However, despite knowing that, there was legit tension in Twisted, and I actually didn’t solve the crime before our leads did (this kind of annoyed me, because I like being the smarty pants who sees the super-obvious clues before the FBI agent/brooding hottie).
Unlike some of the other novels in this series (*cough* Snapped *cough*), in Twisted, the relationship between the two leads develops in a slow sort of way. I know this may be a shock, but Mark and Allison actually grow to have professional respect for one another prior to realizing that the other is totally and completely HOT. In fact, one of the reasons that the like each other is because they’re really into their respective crime-solving gigs—you know, common ground, mutual interests and all that. Their relationship would probably be borderline inappropriate in real life, but Griffin actually addressed this, so it didn’t annoy me like it may have if it weren’t handled so well.
However, there were some significant annoyances in Twisted. Like in many of Griffin’s books (and the entire sub-genre, really) Allison/the female lead winds up in a scrape with her life endangered, thus facilitating the need for a heroic rescue on the part of Mark/the male lead. This baffles me particularly because Allison is a freaking detective and this is not the only time she does something bone-headed that puts her in danger. If she were too stupid to live, I’d understand, but she’s proven herself to be a capable law enforcement officer, so it felt out of character that she’d wind up in these situations. What I really want is an ass-kicking female lead to rescue the dude.
But, I realize I’m probably in the minority with that among Griffin’s readers in my gripe about this. It’s kind of par for the course in the sub-genre. Now, I’m not saying that Allison is weak or stupid—because Griffin’s female characters aren’t (except Celie, obviously)—but I’d like the female lead to be the rescuer sometime, not just the rescued.
And, there’s an awkward sex scene. Which has become more or less Griffin’s signature. Strangely, I’ve read a bunch of reviews saying how “hot” that was, and I just don’t get it. Without going into detail, because no one wants that, one of the characters is injured due to an unfortunate encounter in a prison and I kept thinking that the injuries would be exacerbated in the course of said awkward sex scene. At least there was obvious condom usage, so I wasn’t left screaming,
I think this is the second book of Griffin’s that’s featured Ben Lawson, the Delphi Center’s nerd/cool computer dude, and I’m crossing my fingers that he’s a main character in a future book in this series. (Dammit! Did I just commit to reading more Laura Griffin books? Arrrggg!) My favorite moments in this series have featured the computer nerd crime solvers (i.e., Alex in the first book), so I’ll be crossing my fingers. (I notice the next book features an anthropologist and Navy SEAL. What could possibly go wrong with that pairing?)
I appreciate that Twisted, like the rest of the Tracers series, can be read as a standalone. There are references to and appearances by characters from other books in the Tracers series, so you get a bit of an update on what’s happening with them when reading Twisted, but you’re not going to be lost as to who all these people are. (And there’s quite a bit of foreshadowing about the next book in the series… which I’m sure willmagically accidentally end up on my Kindle.) The interconnectedness is fun, not annoying.
If you enjoy a bit of brain candy awesomeness like Nora Roberts’ Chasing Fire, you’d probably have a lot of fun reading Twisted. (If you have a problem with Nora, I don’t even know what to say.) Griffin’s writing is snappy and fresh with an intriguing “world” that tricks you into embracing the ridiculous.
*Omigod… I just noticed I gave Snapped three stars on Goodreads! Seriously, this is why I can’t be involved in any sort of numeric ratings system. Because, honestly, it was more like a two, but I liked Jonah and thought it was an interesting premise, so three stars it was, I guess. What the hell was I thinking?
**What’s beyond ridiculous? Absurd, hair-brained and straight-up goofy all exceed ridiculous on my Braincandy Silly Premise Scale.
*** TEXAS FOREVER, y’all.
**** Which is why I feel so cheated regarding my one encouter with the long arm of the law in Texas. (What? Let’s just say they take jaywalking very seriously in Houston.)
Original reaction:
Way better than the previous one in this series. And, this one has the added bonus of no Magically Missing Condoms (which sent me into a rage when I read Snapped). I still miss the awesomesauce of the Glass Sisters duology (sp?). If LG didn't have such a snappy reporter's writing style I'd have dropped her from my braincandy list awhile ago. But, her writing is super engaging fluff and there's some decent nuance and a guaranteed happy ending to the mystery (since I've lost my stomach for darker mysteries, this stuff fills that void... somewhat).
Oh, Laura Griffin, why can’t I quit you?
For real… you’d think after I went mildly ballistic over the Magical Missing Condom Syndrome in Griffin’s previous novel, Snapped* and wanted to strangle the main character in One Wrong Step (Celie is the worst main character I’ve ever read—I wanted the bad guys to kill her and leave her body in a ditch), I’d be able to make a clean break from Griffin’s books. But, oh no… a new Tracers book
This is my problem: I enjoyed the hell out of Laura Griffin’s Glass Sisters duology (especially the first one, Thread of Fear). Those two books were the perfect formula for awesomesauce brain candy: decently suspenseful but not too stressful, smart/tough women, smart/tough guys, an interesting setting. I also really, really enjoyed the first book in the Tracers series (which is kind of connected to the Glass Sisters series), Untraceable, because one of the main characters is a female computer hacker for good, which is incredibly badass. So, I keep reading Griffin’s books, hoping to recapture that magic.
And, a lot of those elements are there in subsequent books—plus, Griffin’s a pretty good writer. She’s got a snappy, journalist style and doesn’t get bogged down in procedure or unnecessary details. (Do not bring details and nuance into my brain candy!) Yet, with that said, her novels still seem well-researched—more so than your average CSI episode at least. Trust me on this.
Since I have lost my stomach for a lot of mysteries in the last few years, I’ve tried a lot of the fluffy rom/suspense writers and most of them are just not at all my thing. They tend to be painfully formulatic and beyond ridiculous. (Ridiculous**, I can handle, in fact, I kind of love ridiculous—beyond that… no thanks.)
Also, I have learned two things about Texas from Laura Griffin’s books:
1. The state is virtually crawling with serial killers. It’s amazing anyone survives past thirty there.***
2. The state is also virtually crawling with extremely attractive law enforcement officers.****
Anyway… I should probably get to my review at some point, eh?
The Tracers series (Twisted is the fifth installment) centers around Texas law enforcement that are loosely connected with the Delphi Center (some of the books feature characters who work at the Delphi Center, but each book enlists the Center’s help in some way). Basically, the smarty pants scientists, hackers and receptionists (yes, really) at the Delphi Center help the FBI and local sheriffs crack hard-to-solve cases (obviously, this is a HUGE problem, given the crazy-high percentage of the population in Texas who’re serial killers). Fortunately, everyone at the Delphi Center and the various law enforcement agencies happen to be attractive, smart, ass-kicking hotties, so sparks tend to fly during the crime-solving.
I know, I know… all the
The latest installment in the series, Twisted, features Allison Doyle, a young (27), newbie detective who’s trying to prove herself in the good ol’ boys club of the San Marcos police department and Mark Wolf, an obsessive, older (43) FBI profiler. They team up to track down a super-creepy serial killer that Mark’s been after for years (honestly—usually serial killers in these books don’t even faze me because they’re kind of absurd, but this one is legitimately creepy). Now, naturally, there’s a significant amount of suspension of disbelief that needs to be employed in order to comprehend why the two are teamed up (it has to do with a frozen pizza), but you know… who cares, really? Obviously, since they’re both hot and into crime-solving, they need to team up, so if a frozen pizza is the vehicle that facilitates that happening, oh well.
The suspense in Twisted exceeded that of the last few installments in the Tracers series. Obviously, it’s a given that the main characters are going to solve the crime and live happily ever after (serial killers: the ultimate in modern matchmaking). So, there’s not a lot of mystery as to the outcome of any of Griffin’s books. However, despite knowing that, there was legit tension in Twisted, and I actually didn’t solve the crime before our leads did (this kind of annoyed me, because I like being the smarty pants who sees the super-obvious clues before the FBI agent/brooding hottie).
Unlike some of the other novels in this series (*cough* Snapped *cough*), in Twisted, the relationship between the two leads develops in a slow sort of way. I know this may be a shock, but Mark and Allison actually grow to have professional respect for one another prior to realizing that the other is totally and completely HOT. In fact, one of the reasons that the like each other is because they’re really into their respective crime-solving gigs—you know, common ground, mutual interests and all that. Their relationship would probably be borderline inappropriate in real life, but Griffin actually addressed this, so it didn’t annoy me like it may have if it weren’t handled so well.
However, there were some significant annoyances in Twisted. Like in many of Griffin’s books (and the entire sub-genre, really) Allison/the female lead winds up in a scrape with her life endangered, thus facilitating the need for a heroic rescue on the part of Mark/the male lead. This baffles me particularly because Allison is a freaking detective and this is not the only time she does something bone-headed that puts her in danger. If she were too stupid to live, I’d understand, but she’s proven herself to be a capable law enforcement officer, so it felt out of character that she’d wind up in these situations. What I really want is an ass-kicking female lead to rescue the dude.
But, I realize I’m probably in the minority with that among Griffin’s readers in my gripe about this. It’s kind of par for the course in the sub-genre. Now, I’m not saying that Allison is weak or stupid—because Griffin’s female characters aren’t (except Celie, obviously)—but I’d like the female lead to be the rescuer sometime, not just the rescued.
And, there’s an awkward sex scene. Which has become more or less Griffin’s signature. Strangely, I’ve read a bunch of reviews saying how “hot” that was, and I just don’t get it. Without going into detail, because no one wants that, one of the characters is injured due to an unfortunate encounter in a prison and I kept thinking that the injuries would be exacerbated in the course of said awkward sex scene. At least there was obvious condom usage, so I wasn’t left screaming,
Chlamydia isn’t sexy, y’all!!!
I think this is the second book of Griffin’s that’s featured Ben Lawson, the Delphi Center’s nerd/cool computer dude, and I’m crossing my fingers that he’s a main character in a future book in this series. (Dammit! Did I just commit to reading more Laura Griffin books? Arrrggg!) My favorite moments in this series have featured the computer nerd crime solvers (i.e., Alex in the first book), so I’ll be crossing my fingers. (I notice the next book features an anthropologist and Navy SEAL. What could possibly go wrong with that pairing?)
I appreciate that Twisted, like the rest of the Tracers series, can be read as a standalone. There are references to and appearances by characters from other books in the Tracers series, so you get a bit of an update on what’s happening with them when reading Twisted, but you’re not going to be lost as to who all these people are. (And there’s quite a bit of foreshadowing about the next book in the series… which I’m sure will
If you enjoy a bit of brain candy awesomeness like Nora Roberts’ Chasing Fire, you’d probably have a lot of fun reading Twisted. (If you have a problem with Nora, I don’t even know what to say.) Griffin’s writing is snappy and fresh with an intriguing “world” that tricks you into embracing the ridiculous.
*Omigod… I just noticed I gave Snapped three stars on Goodreads! Seriously, this is why I can’t be involved in any sort of numeric ratings system. Because, honestly, it was more like a two, but I liked Jonah and thought it was an interesting premise, so three stars it was, I guess. What the hell was I thinking?
**What’s beyond ridiculous? Absurd, hair-brained and straight-up goofy all exceed ridiculous on my Braincandy Silly Premise Scale.
*** TEXAS FOREVER, y’all.
**** Which is why I feel so cheated regarding my one encouter with the long arm of the law in Texas. (What? Let’s just say they take jaywalking very seriously in Houston.)
Original reaction:
Way better than the previous one in this series. And, this one has the added bonus of no Magically Missing Condoms (which sent me into a rage when I read Snapped). I still miss the awesomesauce of the Glass Sisters duology (sp?). If LG didn't have such a snappy reporter's writing style I'd have dropped her from my braincandy list awhile ago. But, her writing is super engaging fluff and there's some decent nuance and a guaranteed happy ending to the mystery (since I've lost my stomach for darker mysteries, this stuff fills that void... somewhat).
August 15, 2025
Absolute perfection! 👏
May 3, 2012
3.5/5; 4 stars; B+
I debated whether this should be a 3 star or a 4 star book but my ongoing love of this author tipped me over to 4. Laura Griffin writes a great Romantic suspense novel. I've enjoyed every one I've read; some more than others.
This book was a pretty decent addition to the Tracers series. I liked Mark Wolfe, and I liked the overall mystery plot. Most of the time I liked the character of Allison Doyle but some flaws in this character really detracted from my overall appreciation for this book.
For Allison's character, the point is made, right from the beginning that she feels bad for making a mistake in judgement in a bad situation at the start and she beats herself up for it repeatedly. In that instance, I think anyone would let her off the hook because she had been working a lot of hours, she was tired and distracted, she wasn't on duty, and who the heck is always on the lookout for dirtbags when they stop in at the corner gas station? The fact that she thought this incident made her look like a crappy cop to her coworkers and that she lost ground after fighting so hard for recognition and respect, is brought up more than once.
Then, she made the point, in conversation with Mark, that,as a relatively small person, and a woman to boot, she had learned the value of calling for back up, talking people down, and handling situations in a smart, non violent fashion. She talked liked she was sensible and she repeatedly stewed over and felt remorse for her mistakes in judgement. However, during the climax of the story she came undone, did a really idiotic thing, didn't communicate with or involve her team and almost got herself killed. It really annoyed me. It was like the character being built through out the book was a complete sham.
Despite these flaws, I'm still on board with this series and eagerly await the next book in the fall.
I debated whether this should be a 3 star or a 4 star book but my ongoing love of this author tipped me over to 4. Laura Griffin writes a great Romantic suspense novel. I've enjoyed every one I've read; some more than others.
This book was a pretty decent addition to the Tracers series. I liked Mark Wolfe, and I liked the overall mystery plot. Most of the time I liked the character of Allison Doyle but some flaws in this character really detracted from my overall appreciation for this book.
For Allison's character, the point is made, right from the beginning that she feels bad for making a mistake in judgement in a bad situation at the start and she beats herself up for it repeatedly. In that instance, I think anyone would let her off the hook because she had been working a lot of hours, she was tired and distracted, she wasn't on duty, and who the heck is always on the lookout for dirtbags when they stop in at the corner gas station? The fact that she thought this incident made her look like a crappy cop to her coworkers and that she lost ground after fighting so hard for recognition and respect, is brought up more than once.
Then, she made the point, in conversation with Mark, that,as a relatively small person, and a woman to boot, she had learned the value of calling for back up, talking people down, and handling situations in a smart, non violent fashion. She talked liked she was sensible and she repeatedly stewed over and felt remorse for her mistakes in judgement. However, during the climax of the story she came undone, did a really idiotic thing, didn't communicate with or involve her team and almost got herself killed. It really annoyed me. It was like the character being built through out the book was a complete sham.
Despite these flaws, I'm still on board with this series and eagerly await the next book in the fall.
November 7, 2015
3.5 Stars rounded up | I have mixed thoughts on this book by Ms Griffin. It's not my favorite from a romantic perspective, but I really did enjoy the suspense plot.
One of the reason I like Ms Griffin's writing is that I really enjoy the suspense plots she develops and I like the group of characters she has developed at the Delphi Center Crime Lab. Her stories work for me; they are what I enjoy reading.
Ms. Griffin knows how to weave a story. I also appreciate that the writing and editing of her books are sound. Once upon a time I would have never included writing and editing in a review of a book, but in today's world...
I really liked the plot in this book and thought it was woven well. I liked that she had her lead male, Mark Wolfe continue to track an unsolved serial killer for over a decade. In fact I really liked Wolfe's character. He felt real from the way that he methodically worked through his cases to the way that a cold case still had a hold on him. The way that he internalized his feelings and distance himself from others also felt true.
Where the story didn't work from me was the lead female. This was an older man (43) /younger woman (27) romance which for me works best when the younger person is more mature. There were numerous times when I felt that our lead female, Allison Doyle, was too immature and I had a disconnect with how Wolfe's character would be OK with that. Part of that is me as I don't like my h's to be immature.
My other disconnect in this book was how some of the character's from the SMPD (San Marcos Police Department) which considering they were heroes in prior novels they had a lot of moments where they almost resembled the cliche of the "protecting my turf" cop.
I still recommend this book as well as Laura Griffin as an author.
One of the reason I like Ms Griffin's writing is that I really enjoy the suspense plots she develops and I like the group of characters she has developed at the Delphi Center Crime Lab. Her stories work for me; they are what I enjoy reading.
Ms. Griffin knows how to weave a story. I also appreciate that the writing and editing of her books are sound. Once upon a time I would have never included writing and editing in a review of a book, but in today's world...
I really liked the plot in this book and thought it was woven well. I liked that she had her lead male, Mark Wolfe continue to track an unsolved serial killer for over a decade. In fact I really liked Wolfe's character. He felt real from the way that he methodically worked through his cases to the way that a cold case still had a hold on him. The way that he internalized his feelings and distance himself from others also felt true.
Where the story didn't work from me was the lead female. This was an older man (43) /younger woman (27) romance which for me works best when the younger person is more mature. There were numerous times when I felt that our lead female, Allison Doyle, was too immature and I had a disconnect with how Wolfe's character would be OK with that. Part of that is me as I don't like my h's to be immature.
My other disconnect in this book was how some of the character's from the SMPD (San Marcos Police Department) which considering they were heroes in prior novels they had a lot of moments where they almost resembled the cliche of the "protecting my turf" cop.
I still recommend this book as well as Laura Griffin as an author.
April 25, 2012
The ending dimishes my grading of this book from excellent to mearly good. Total opposite of Snapped, Griffin's previous outing, Twisted works well in romance department, but the suspense plot is a bit old and tired. The heroine, Allison, is a minor character in Snapped, and I liked her until maybe half-way point in this book after she commited mistake after mistake with no sign of learning. Spunky she is. Stubborn she's plenty. Smart she's not. That brings me to my complaint about the ending when she made the ultimate bonehead decision which also dragged down my favorite character, the hero, to do something desperate and out of character just (I guess) for the author to show us readers he loves her.
Well, Twisted should be a three, but I still give it a four because I love love love Griffin's writing style and her quiet, older heroes in particular. The seduction scenes which are pretty darn hot help tip the scale too.
Well, Twisted should be a three, but I still give it a four because I love love love Griffin's writing style and her quiet, older heroes in particular. The seduction scenes which are pretty darn hot help tip the scale too.
October 6, 2016
This feels like Shadow Falls-lite. (I know that comes later in the series, but I read it first.) Tara feels like a more-developed Allison and Liam feels like the less-robotic Wolfe brother.
Also, once again, the big age difference is brought up and then dropped completely because hormones, or True Love, or whatever. Where is my actual resolution??
Of this series, the high points have been Untraceable (book 1), Exposed (book 7), Beyond Limits (book 8, itself a stronger version of book 5), Shadow Fall (book 9), and Deep Dark (book 10). I'm noticing a trend there; am very excited for book 11, coming this January.
Also, once again, the big age difference is brought up and then dropped completely because hormones, or True Love, or whatever. Where is my actual resolution??
Of this series, the high points have been Untraceable (book 1), Exposed (book 7), Beyond Limits (book 8, itself a stronger version of book 5), Shadow Fall (book 9), and Deep Dark (book 10). I'm noticing a trend there; am very excited for book 11, coming this January.
April 27, 2012
I am really paying the price today for loving this book so much that I could not put it down until it was finished! So I've only had 4 hours of sleep.
This is my new favorite Laura Griffin book. It has everything I love to see in a romantic suspense - tall dark and handsome/tortured hero, a heroine who isn't perfect and a scary nut job serial killer.
I think I'm in love with Mark Wolfe!
Oh and the sneak peak at her next Tracer's book with Gage and Kelsey was terrific!
This is my new favorite Laura Griffin book. It has everything I love to see in a romantic suspense - tall dark and handsome/tortured hero, a heroine who isn't perfect and a scary nut job serial killer.
I think I'm in love with Mark Wolfe!
Oh and the sneak peak at her next Tracer's book with Gage and Kelsey was terrific!
May 17, 2012
This might have been my favorite of the series. I loved Mark and Allison. Great story, great suspense and I was totally engaged.
Unfortunately as always the romance did fall flat for me. LG just doesn't do great romance. But I totally forgive it as the story is worth it.
Unfortunately as always the romance did fall flat for me. LG just doesn't do great romance. But I totally forgive it as the story is worth it.
February 22, 2016
I liked Allison and Mark as a couple. She was fiesty and refused to let him take himself too seriously. Really well written read and I didn't see that twist until it was right there in front of me. Well done!
June 18, 2016
Two-haiku review:
Woman raped, throat slit
Male cops think it's the boyfriend
She's not quite so sure
Serial killer
Excellent plot, characters
Loving this series!
Woman raped, throat slit
Male cops think it's the boyfriend
She's not quite so sure
Serial killer
Excellent plot, characters
Loving this series!
December 12, 2022
We were briefly introduced to Detective Allison Doyle in the last book and I really really liked her character. I was so excited to see that she was getting her own book and romance and quickly! Laura Griffin has a large fan following, especially in the thriller genre! What I love so much about Griffin is that she writes a very balanced romantic suspense story. It’s not too much romance but has enough romance and heat that readers will be fully invested in not only the mystery but also the characters romances.
Griffin’s books are always fast reads. I have been reading them super fast, I am averaging a day, two at most, to read each novel. And each book comes in at around 400 pages so clearly I am devouring them at record speed! There are some books I have read that are lengthy like this (400+ pages) and I struggle to get through them quickly but that is NOT the case with any of Griffin’s books. I find them to be fast reads that hold your attention and grip you right from the beginning.
In this book we have a bit of a May December romance meaning there is an age difference between the two of the main characters. This was sort of a new approach in the series as the other characters have up until this point been about the same age. I thought it would be a fun match between them though since Allison seems more mature than some of her other colleagues. Plus the love interest, Mark, sounded very intriguing and I was super excited to read more about him.
As I have mentioned in my previous reviews of this series, one of the things I like best is the unexpected plots. Sometimes it might be a serial killer plot, while others it might be a terrorist plot or even a conspiracy. I love that it’s always a surprise and you never know what’s coming your way each time you open up a book in the series. In this book it features a serial killer that Mark Wolfe of the FBI has been tracking for a lengthy time. He shows up and meets Allison and they race the clock to try and catch a serial killer. This case has so many twists and turns and it will leave you guessing and questioning everything. I loved ‘shadowing’ Mark and Allison in this one and trying to work the pieces out. Criminal profiling is fascinating to me as well and this one did not disappoint!
I also thought the romance between Allison and Mark was well done. Mark is dealing with burn out and he’s older than Allison so he struggled a bit when it came to getting involved with her. I loved that Allison was BOLD. One of the things that stood out to me was that Allison asked HIM out on a date and I thought that showed so much confidence on her part and I loved her for it. It went really well with her character and I loved that for once we see a woman pursuing a man. She wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted and I think that a lot of readers will enjoy this part of the book. I know I sure did! Although I think there could have been more chemistry between them, I think their romance was more fitting that way. Allison was more practical and no nonsense and Mark was more reserved, it would have felt off if their romance was too sexy or ‘hot’. Griffin stays true to their characters for the romance.
This series is just so so so good. As I write this review, I am currently on the last book of this series and wondering what the heck I am going to do with my life when this series is over! I have no idea what I am going to read after this series—-but something tells me that I might pick up some of Griffin’s standalone books and likely the Wolfe Security series next! Griffin is such a talented writer and I cannot say enough great things about this series and all the other books I have read by her! If you are looking for a well written thriller you need to read ANY of her books! They are all fantastic!
Griffin’s books are always fast reads. I have been reading them super fast, I am averaging a day, two at most, to read each novel. And each book comes in at around 400 pages so clearly I am devouring them at record speed! There are some books I have read that are lengthy like this (400+ pages) and I struggle to get through them quickly but that is NOT the case with any of Griffin’s books. I find them to be fast reads that hold your attention and grip you right from the beginning.
In this book we have a bit of a May December romance meaning there is an age difference between the two of the main characters. This was sort of a new approach in the series as the other characters have up until this point been about the same age. I thought it would be a fun match between them though since Allison seems more mature than some of her other colleagues. Plus the love interest, Mark, sounded very intriguing and I was super excited to read more about him.
As I have mentioned in my previous reviews of this series, one of the things I like best is the unexpected plots. Sometimes it might be a serial killer plot, while others it might be a terrorist plot or even a conspiracy. I love that it’s always a surprise and you never know what’s coming your way each time you open up a book in the series. In this book it features a serial killer that Mark Wolfe of the FBI has been tracking for a lengthy time. He shows up and meets Allison and they race the clock to try and catch a serial killer. This case has so many twists and turns and it will leave you guessing and questioning everything. I loved ‘shadowing’ Mark and Allison in this one and trying to work the pieces out. Criminal profiling is fascinating to me as well and this one did not disappoint!
I also thought the romance between Allison and Mark was well done. Mark is dealing with burn out and he’s older than Allison so he struggled a bit when it came to getting involved with her. I loved that Allison was BOLD. One of the things that stood out to me was that Allison asked HIM out on a date and I thought that showed so much confidence on her part and I loved her for it. It went really well with her character and I loved that for once we see a woman pursuing a man. She wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted and I think that a lot of readers will enjoy this part of the book. I know I sure did! Although I think there could have been more chemistry between them, I think their romance was more fitting that way. Allison was more practical and no nonsense and Mark was more reserved, it would have felt off if their romance was too sexy or ‘hot’. Griffin stays true to their characters for the romance.
This series is just so so so good. As I write this review, I am currently on the last book of this series and wondering what the heck I am going to do with my life when this series is over! I have no idea what I am going to read after this series—-but something tells me that I might pick up some of Griffin’s standalone books and likely the Wolfe Security series next! Griffin is such a talented writer and I cannot say enough great things about this series and all the other books I have read by her! If you are looking for a well written thriller you need to read ANY of her books! They are all fantastic!
April 25, 2017
Plot: 5/5
Characterisation: 4/5
Prose: 4/5
How much I enjoyed it: 4/5
Characterisation: 4/5
Prose: 4/5
How much I enjoyed it: 4/5
May 16, 2020
This series is so good!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews